Mumbai, July 19 -- Maharashtra's political discourse plunged to a new low this week as BJP MP Nishikant Dubey and MNS chief Raj Thackeray traded open threats, transforming a regional issue into a national spectacle.

The verbal slugfest began when Dubey, during a public speech, declared, "Patak patak ke maarenge," aimed squarely at Raj Thackeray - a pointed response to the MNS's historical targeting of North Indian migrants in Maharashtra.

Thackeray fired back at a Mumbai rally, saying, "Dubey, tum Mumbai me aajao, Mumbai ke samundar mein dubo dubo ke maarenge," reigniting the volatile debate over Marathi identity versus migrant influence in the state.

This isn't the first time Thackeray has fanned linguistic and cultural tensions. The ...